Rubber heel lift



Aug. 17, 1937. R. H. wATERs E1- AL 2,090,244

RUBBER HEEL LIFT Filed March 23, 1935 Patented Aug. 17, 1937 PATENT OFFICE RUBBER HEEL LIFT Reginald H.

Waters and George L. Younglof, Akron, Ohio, assignors to Wingfoot Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application March 23, 1935, Serial No. 12,685

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to rubber heel lifts and has particular relation to lifts for women's shoes of the high-heel type.

Certain types of vhigh heels comprise a body portion or heel seat constructedlof wood or aluminum and having a covering of leather, kid, satin or the like cemented thereto. The bottom edges of this covering are folded under the lower surface of the heel and cemented or otherwise secured in place and the rubber lift applied over this inwardly folded edge of the covering and in direct contact therewith.

The preferred type of rubber lift is molded with a concaved upper surface so that when the lift is nailed in place the upper outer'edges thereof will closely hug the heel seat, thus not only presenting a neat and finished appearance but also preventing dirt from Working in between the lift and the seat. It has been noticed, however, that when a lift of this configuration is applied to a heel having a thin outer covering, such as that above described, the inturned edges of the covering will be engaged by the relatively sharp outer edges of the lift so that when the latter is flattened and spread laterally upon being nailed in position, these edges will tear the inturned edges of the covering away from the body of the heel and force them outwardly. This results in an unsightly wrinkle or bulge in the covering adjacent to the lift. Moreover, the flexing of the rubber of the lift which occurs when the shoe is worn, causes friction between the lift and the covering which tends to work the inturned edges outwardly and develop a wrinkle at this point even though one is not formed when the lift is initially attached.

Various expedients have been resorted to in an effort to avoid the difficulties mentioned. For example, it has been proposed to vulcanize a sheet of material having a smooth surface to the upper surface of the heel during the molding operation but the rubber, having a greater coefficient of contraction than the sheet, causes the lift to bulge upwardly, thus destroying the concaved configuration of its upper surface and also its utility as a lift.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a rubber heel lift having an exposed central area on its upper surface for frictional contact with the heel seat and having the marginal portion thereof covered by a material having a relatively low coefiicient of friction which will slipupon the inturned edges of the covering when the heel is applied to the shoe and when the rubber is flexed upon wear without displacing the inturned edges of the covering.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rubber heel lift of the Character described which is provided with a band of relatively stif material about the margin thereof which will reinforce the body portion of the lift against lateral expansion when the lift is applied to a shoe.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a rubber heel lift having means incorporated therein for reinforcing the rubber against lateral expansion, which means will present relatively smooth surface to the inturned edges of the heel covering so as to prevent the displacement thereof during wear.

With such objects in view, as well as other advantages which may be incident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists o-f the several method steps and combinations thereof and also of the several elements of the apparatus and combinations thereof, hereinafter set forth and claimed with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportions and arrangement without departing from the nature and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accompanying drawing, means for carrying the invention into practical effect, without limiting the improvements in their useful application to the particular constructions which, for the purpos'e of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration..

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a heel lift constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the heel lift taken on line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectional view through a heel and heel lift and showing the latter secured thereto in a flattened condition;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a heel lift embodying another form of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a perspectivev view of a heel lift embodying still another form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the present and improved heel lift is shown as comprising a body portion IO of molded rubber or the like which is preferably formed with a concave upper surface I and preferably with a convex lower tread surface |2 (Fig. 2). The body IO is also formed I plished by providing the tion of the band |5 is such'that the central; area of the body portion I 0 is vexposed for frictiqnal contact with the main bodyof a'heel l6f '(Fig.-'3)' when the former is secured in position. Thejheel |6 is provided with the usual covering -|1` of leather, kid, satin or the like, which is cemented thereto so as to conform accurately to the c'urva-'` ture and configuration of the heel. The lower.` edges of the covering i'i are folded inwardly, as

indicatedV at l8,'and arev also secured in position by ceme'nting. It will be 'observed from' an inspection of Fig. '3 of the drawing that the band 15 of the lift abutsy the inturned' edges lB'and by reason of the smooth surface thereof will slide upon the inturned edges l8 with any flexing or lateral 'movement of'V the lift, thus minimizing any tendencyto'tear the edges 18 away from the heel. v

By reason of the fact that the rubber of the body portion IO has a greater degree of contractionj than the band v|5, it may be found desirable to weaken the band at intervals in order to preventthe llift from working upwardly during the Vulcanizing operation. This mayV be. accominner periphery'of the bandi with a plurality of recesses |9, as shown in Figure 4 or with a plurality lof slits 20, as shownin Figure 5. 'These recesses or slits weaken lthe material of the band so that it lmay give to the desired degree with the shrinkage of the rubber, thereby insuring that the finished article ,will not become warped in cooling. It will be understood, however, that this weakeningof the band |5 maybe obtained in other Ways,'such as by serrating the inner periphery of the' band or by perforating the same at intervals. 'These slits 20 may be extended entirely to the outer periphery of the margin |5, as indicated at 2| on Fig. 5 in cases where the coeflicient of expansion between the materialof the margin strip and the lift differs radically,

` by those skilled in In certain instances it may be found desirable to treat the outer upper marginal area of the lift by spraying thereon paint, enamel, varnish, or a preperation known as Pliolite, so as to provide a film having a smooth, slick surface at the point where the lift overlies the inturned edges IB of the covering |1. i v v a Other modifications .and changes in proportion and arrangement of the several necessary elements constituting the invention may be made the art without departing from the nature and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus descrlbed the invention what we claim is:

1'. A heel lift comprising a rubber body having the central area of the upper surface thereof ex- -posedfor frictional engagement with the heel seat ofa shoe and the marginal area thereof covered by a film of material having relatively low friction with said heel:v seat.

2. A heel lift comprising wa rubber bodyhaving the central area of the upper surface thereof exposed for frictional engagement with the heel seat of a shoeand the marginal area thereof covered by a filmof paint to reduce friction with said heel seat. v

3. A heel lift comprising a rubber body having the central area of the upper surface thereof, within the nailing zone, exposed for frictional engagement'with the heel seat'of a shoe and the marginal area thereof, outside the nailing zone, covered by. a relatively thin layer of anti-friction material afiixed thereto to reduce friction with said heel seat. ,i f o 4. A heel lift comprising, a ,rubber body having a concaved upper surface land a eonvexed lower surface, and a band of relatively thin material having a low .coeflicient of friction engageable with the margin only of the upper surface of said body outside the nailing zone, and conformof said body for reinlateral expansion when attached to the heel seat of a shoe and for minimizing friction between said body and the Vmar-A gin of said heel seat, the central area of said body being exposed for frictional contact with the heel seat of said shoe.

REGINALD H.`WA'I'ERS. l GEORGE L. YOUNGLOF. 

